Cup Quarter Final

By Richard Bottomley

Closer than score suggests

This match was played on the full size 4G pitch, which meant a lot of running for the team, especially knowing we had no substitutes.

We asked the team to try and keep a clean sheet for the 1st 20 minutes, unfortunately this didn't happen, and they were 2 down after 20 minutes. However, Gomersal were playing some decent football and both Mackenzie Fraser and Tim Hill had one on one chances saved. We also had other openings and opportunities which if taken, the game could have been different. We went in at half time 2 nil down, but the performance was excellent, and we couldn't fault the team’s effort. Bryn Evans pulled off a string of solid saves to keep us in the game. Niall Brown filled in at left back and was excellent, probably his best game for the team this season.We went 3 nil down within 58 seconds of the restart which killed off the game as a competition. The team kept playing some really decent football and again had several chances. Elliot Atkinson was really struggling with an injury, so the midfield trio of Sam Bottomley, Josh Carney and Luke Oldcorn really put in a shift covering the vast pitch. Their 4th goal followed, again against the run of play.Eventually in the 50th minute the boys got their rewards with a neatly worked through ball which Mackenzie Fraser took on, taking 3 players with him, he unselfishly found Tim Hill in the middle who was un marked and slotted in his 17th of the season. Elliot Atkinson then had to leave the field due to his injury leaving the team down to 10 players for the last 20. They continued to battle hard, Alex Hughes, George Boulton, Lewis Wilkinson and the rejuvenated Niall Brown continued to defend well. Josh Carney was getting the ball and using it well, the old body swerve was back, creating room! They scored their 5th late on, but not before Bryn Evans pulled of more saves, one of which was outstanding tipping the ball over the bar. Sam Bottomley also found an extra gear and somehow kept running to cover the pitch end to end which spurred on Luke Oldcorn and Josh Carney and the rest of the team to keep battling to the end.The score did not reflect the boy’s performance and with a fully fit squad and a better finishing the result could have been different. The opposition coach said it was a much tougher game than last week when they beat White Rose 7-2 and that he thought our team fought and played really well.There were several choices for MOM, but Lewis Wilkinson was awarded this for his strength, coolness on the ball and overall performance, oh and it was his birthday.Well done boys.